Sacramento-California sources said much more moisture is needed to pull the state out of an ongoing drought, and winter moisture so far is well below normal. Recent surveys showed the statewide snowpack at just 61 percent of average, with snow levels in the Northern Sierra, where some of the state’s most important reservoirs are located, standing at only 49 percent of average. In January Sacramento saw just 1.5 inches of rain, compared with an historical average of 4.2 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Redding registered only 0.93 of an inch compared with the January average of 6.5 inches. Sacramento has never ordered water rationing in its 160-year history, but the Sacramento Bee recently reported that local water districts will soon announce Stage 2 and 3 conservation measures, and the city council on Feb. 24 will consider a water rationing mandate for the city. As far as agriculture is concerned, the water woes will likely put tens of thousands of acres out of production this year if February and March remain dry. The San Joaquin Valley’s Westlands Water District has warned customers they may not get any water this year, describing the situation as “very grim for all farmers.” A district spokesperson was quoted in the press as saying “there simply will be drastic fallowing and, in all likelihood, significant impacts that result in some businesses not making it through.” Sources told Green Markets that initial reports show more than 200,000 acres of rice may not be planted in the state, and cotton acreage in the southern San Joaquin Valley could fall to under 100,000 acres in 2009. “Right now we’re in a wait-and-see attitude,” said one source. Added another, “It’s pretty dire right now. The way it stands, there’ll be thousands of acres that won’t be planted.”
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